Homecoming week on Union University’s campus kicks off this week with many traditional favorites as well as some additions to the week’s fun-filled schedule.
One of these changes is hosting the Student Activities Council’s Hullabaloo at the AMP in downtown Jackson during homecoming week. Homecoming Hullabaloo will take place on Friday, Nov. 1, at 8:30 p.m. This year’s festivities will also include the highly anticipated Buster Bowl, a full-pads tackle football game for male Union students and professors to compete in as a homecoming football game of sorts. This game will take place at Jackson Christian School’s football field Saturday, Nov. 2, at 10 a.m.
Some changes were also made to the homecoming court. Instead of class representatives and Mr. and Ms. Union all being a part of homecoming, Union’s student Senate voted to replace class representatives with the five male and five female candidates for Mr. and Ms. Union. Mr. and Ms. Union will be announced during the men’s basketball game Saturday at 4 p.m. in the Fred Delay Gymnasium.
This year’s homecoming is largely led by students. This is meant to provide more interesting events for students and to give students a place to use their God-given gifts.
“There are two student directors and a committee made up of 25 students from each class that represent a large variety of on-campus organizations,” said Ivy Adkisson, sophomore art major and assistant homecoming director.
Lindsey Weaver, assistant director for student leadership and engagement in the office of student life, is ecstatic about the new additions to homecoming week and has loved watching students take on these leadership roles.
“This year, it is fully run by students,” said Weaver. “Students putting on events, students volunteering, students running the homecoming committee, students implementing it. It’s just cool to watch students shine and to see the gifts that God has given them and just let their purpose shine through. It’s pretty incredible.”
Some homecoming favorites, such as Bulldog Olympics, Bulldog Madness, Costume Coffee House and Campus and Community Day will still take place during the week, and each of these events have been taken to the next level to encourage student involvement and excitement about homecoming week.
Ten student organizations are signed up to compete for the President’s Cup this week, which is awarded to the organization that has the highest number of points by the end of homecoming week. Points are determined through competitions such as Bulldog Olympics, CanCreations (a canned food drive and sculpture design contest), the best homecoming banner, best costume at Costume Coffee House and the organization’s attendance of each event put on this week.
“We could not be more excited for the student body to see the new and improved Union University Homecoming,” said Adkisson.
A full list of homecoming events with dates and times can be found on the office of student life Instagram page (@uusle).